A short hello, and a question for Boston DUers

[Kellanved]

Hi, after half a week stateside, I've finally succeeded in finding an internet PC.
Immigration was slightly unsettling because of the fingerprint/mugshot thing, but no real reason to complain (final verdict pending, as no guarantees on the use of my personal data were given.

I'll have an free afternoon in Boston tomorrow and was wondering what to with my time. This came unexpectedly and so I have shamefully neglected to do my reading on Boston in time.

So any good hints on the one or two absolute must-sees?
Thanks in advance.

I hope that I've caught all y/z switches ;-)

:hi:


On Edit: sorry my internet time is up :-(

[JVS]

1. Are you hear for the long haul?

[Kellanved]

2. ah, no

Just visiting for 10 days.

[elcondor]

3. Hello!

I fell in love with Boston a few months ago. I was in the city for two weeks for the convention; and the best times I had were just walking around area of the Boston Common. The one place you MUST see is Beacon Street/Hill. (You can even find John Kerry's house! (Well, one of them at least!)) ;-)

If you want to do the tourist thing; there's the Cheer's bar--but it's nothing special, and if you only have an afternoon it's not worth it.

The walking tour is so much fun (just follow the red line).

Quincy Market is a nice area, as is China Town (be sure not go wander in that later area at night, though). A restaurant I recommend in that neighborhood is Bejing on the Common--it has both Chinese and Vietnamese food and is absolutely delicious. (Try the crispy chicken!)

Just by walking around, though, you can literally trip into historic places and great little shops/restaurants. It is definately not a city do be seen by car!

[Squeech]

4. Freedom Trail

Not that everything on it is interesting-- I don't get real excited by old churches and graveyards-- but the good stuff is way cool. I like Paul Revere's house, which contains a lot of the accoutrements of life in the colonial era, and I like the Constitution. And the route itself runs through some of Boston's most picturesque areas.

[maveric]

5. New England Aquarium, Peaboby Museum, Museum of Fine Arts

Science Museum, Fanuel Hall Marketplace(a cool tourist trap), The North End, The Common, Granary Burial Ground and the Antiquarian and rare book stores.

[tarkus]

6. Henry James' gravesite is in Cambridge.

I couldn't find it, but I only had a few hours. Perhaps you will have better luck. And get a Bubbletea at Tealuxe in Harvard Square.

[freethought]

7. Two words-North End

If you are in Boston you must have a dinner or lunch in the North End!
YOU WILL HAVE MEAL IN THE NORTH END! No trip to Boston is complete without it. There are any number of great places there, some of them may be a little pricey and in 'back street' locations but they are well worth it. The North End is the Italian section of Boston.

If you want to get the Boston 'ambiance' just head up and explore around Beacon Hill and Boston Common. These areas are the epitome of the Boston character. John Kerry's home is somewhere up there.

[welshTerrier2]

8. Harvard Square: Passims

take a ride on the red line to Cambridge and get off in Harvard Square (it's about a 15 minute ride) ... there's all kinds of restaurants there ...

my #1 tip: check out a little folk music at Passim's coffee house ... it's a block or two from the subway stop ... best folk music in the world there ...

here's their website: http://www.clubpassim.com/